Connectorless sea train

Abstract

The invention is directed towards a watercraft module and a connectorless sea train including two or more of the watercraft modules. The watercraft modules in the sea train are formed in a bow-to-stern relationship and are held together by compression forces. Each module includes a hull having a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile, and a stern end having either a continuous end or a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein. The size and shape of the substantially V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end. In the sea train having two or more watercraft modules, the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end of a trailing watercraft is received in the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern of a leading watercraft.

1. A watercraft for a connectorless sea train, the watercraft comprising:
 a hull comprising:
 a top side; 
 a bottom side; 
 a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile; 
 a stern end, the stern end having a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein so that the substantially V-shaped notch extends from the top side of the hull to the bottom side of the hull, wherein the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end, the watercraft further comprising a waterjet propulsion arrangement attached to the hull, the waterjet propulsion arrangement comprising at least one exit nozzle on either side of the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the hull, wherein each exit nozzle is rotatably adjustable. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the hull has a hull length measured from the bow end of the hull to the stern end of the hull, and the V-shaped notch has a notch length measured from the stern end to an apex of the notch, wherein the notch length is about 0.25 to about 0.35 of the hull length. 
     
     
       3. The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein the stern end of the hull includes a stern width, and at the stern end the substantially V-shaped notch has a notch width, wherein the notch width is about 0.5 to about 0.6 of the stern width. 
     
     
       4. The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein the substantially V-shaped profile comprises a transverse flat portion at an apex of the profile, and wherein the substantially V-shaped notch comprises a transverse flat receiving portion at the apex of the notch. 
     
     
       5. The watercraft of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a bumper arrangement within the V-shaped notch. 
 
     
     
       6. The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the hull has a hull length of about 350 ft to about 650 ft, a notch length of about 105 ft to about 195 ft, a stern width of about 110 ft to about 200 ft and a notch width of about 60 ft to about 110 ft. 
     
     
       7. The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the hull has a hull length of about 500 ft, a notch length of about 150 ft, a stern width of about 160 ft, a notch width of about 88 ft, and a hull depth at the bow end of about 75 ft. 
     
     
       8. A connectorless sea train for energy efficient high speed travel, the connectorless sea train comprising:
 two or more watercrafts travelling at high speeds, each of the two or more watercrafts comprising:
 a hull having:
 a top side; 
 a bottom side; 
 a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile; and 
 a stern end, the stern end being one of a continuous end or a notched end, wherein the notched end comprises a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein so that the substantially V-shaped notch extends from the top side of the hull to the bottom side of the hull, wherein the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end; 
 
 
 a bow-to-stern arrangement of the two or more watercrafts, the arrangement comprising:
 a first watercraft of the two or more watercrafts; and 
 a second watercraft of the two or more watercrafts, wherein a bow end of the second watercraft is positioned within a substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the first watercraft forming the connectorless sea train, wherein each of the two or more watercrafts further comprises: 
 a waterjet propulsion arrangement attached to the hull for propelling the connectorless sea train, the waterjet arrangement comprising at least one exit nozzle pair at the stern end, wherein when the connectorless sea train is propelled, the compressive forces developed among the two or more watercrafts at said high speeds is strong enough to maintain the bow end of the second watercraft within the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the first watercraft without employing physical attachment devices. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The connectorless sea train of  claim 8 , wherein the stern end of each of the two or more watercrafts is a notched end, and in each of the two or more watercrafts the hull has a hull length measured from the bow end of the hull to the stern end of the hull, and the V-shaped notch having a notch length measured from the stern end to an apex of the notch, wherein the notch length is about 0.25 to about 0.35 of the hull length, and the stern end of the hull includes a stern width, and at the stern end the substantially V-shaped notch has a notch width, wherein the notch width is about 0.5 to about 0.6 of the stern width, and wherein each hull further includes a bumper arrangement within the substantially V-shaped notch. 
     
     
       10. The connectorless sea train of  claim 9 , wherein in each of the two or more watercrafts, each watercraft has a hull length of about 350 ft to about 650 ft, a notch length of about 105 ft to about 195 ft, a stern width of about 110 ft to about 200 ft and a notch width of about 60 ft to about 110 ft. 
     
     
       11. The connectorless sea train of  claim 10 , wherein the bow-to-stern arrangement of the two or more watercrafts further comprises:
 a third watercraft of the two or more watercrafts, wherein the bow end of the third watercraft is positioned within the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the second watercraft forming the connectorless sea train. 
 
     
     
       12. The connectorless sea train of  claim 11 , wherein each of the two or more watercrafts comprises:
 an elongated hull axis; 
 one or more orthogonal axes perpendicular to the elongated hull axis, and 
 wherein each nozzle is rotatably adjustable, 
 wherein in the first watercraft each rotatably adjustable exit nozzle is rotated about an orthogonal axis so that exit nozzle fluids are splayed at an angle that circumscribes the shape of the bow of the second watercraft, 
 wherein in the second watercraft each rotatably adjustable exit nozzle is rotated about an orthogonal axis so that exit nozzle fluids are splayed at an angle that circumscribes the shape of the bow of the third watercraft, 
 wherein in the third watercraft each rotatably adjustable exit nozzle is maintained so that exit nozzle fluids are directed in a substantially aft direction, and 
 wherein each of the nozzles expels fluids at a rate that propels the sea train at a speed of about 30 knots to about 50 knots. 
 
     
     
       13. The connectorless sea train of  claim 12 , wherein each of the two or more watercrafts has a hull length of about 500 ft, a notch length of about 150 ft, a stern width of about 160 ft, a hull depth at the bow end of about 75 ft, and wherein when traveling at a speed of about 30 knots to about 50 knots, each of the two of more watercrafts comprises a draft line representing a waterline minimum level, the waterline maximum level being about 25 ft from the bottom side, and wherein in the sea train, the flow of water at the bow end of the hull of the first watercraft is at about the draft line, and wherein in each of the hulls of the second and third watercrafts, the flow at the respective bow end is about 15 ft from the bottom side. 
     
     
       14. The connectorless sea train of  claim 8 , wherein in the bow-to-stern arrangement of the two or more watercrafts, the stern end of the second watercraft is a continuous flat end and the waterjet arrangement has two pairs of nozzles at the continuous flat end for providing compression forces in the sea train. 
     
     
       15. A connectorless sea train for energy efficient high speed travel, the connectorless sea train comprising:
 two or more watercrafts, each of the two or more watercrafts comprising:
 a hull having:
 a top side; 
 a bottom side; 
 a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile; and 
 a stern end, the stern end being one of a continuous end or a notched end, wherein the notched end comprises a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein so that the substantially V-shaped notch extends from the top side of the hull to the bottom side of the hull, wherein the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end; 
 
 
 a bow-to-stern arrangement of the two or more watercrafts, the arrangement comprising:
 a first watercraft of the two or more watercrafts; and 
 a second watercraft of the two or more watercrafts, wherein a bow end of the second watercraft is positioned within a substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the first watercraft forming the connectorless sea train, wherein the bow-to-stern arrangement of the two or more watercrafts further comprises: 
 a third watercraft of the two or more watercrafts, wherein the bow end of the third watercraft is positioned within a substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the second watercraft forming the connectorless sea train, wherein the stern end of the third watercraft is a continuous end, 
 wherein each of the two or more watercrafts further comprises:
 a waterjet propulsion arrangement attached to the hull for propelling the connectorless sea train at speeds of about 30 Knots to about 50 Knots, the waterjet arrangement comprising at least one exit nozzle pair at the stern end; 
 
 an elongated hull axis; 
 one or more orthogonal axes perpendicular to the elongated hull axis, and wherein in each of the two or more watercrafts each exit nozzle pair is rotatably adjustable, wherein in the first watercraft each rotatably adjustable exit nozzle pair is rotated about an orthogonal axis so that exit nozzle fluids are splayed at an angle that circumscribes the shape of the bow of the second watercraft, 
 
 wherein in the second watercraft each rotatably adjustable exit nozzle pair is rotated about an orthogonal axis so that exit nozzle fluids are splayed at an angle that circumscribes the shape of the bow of the third watercraft, and 
 wherein the third watercraft comprises two pairs of exit nozzles, each exit nozzle is maintained so that exit nozzle fluids are directed in a substantially aft direction. 
 
     
     
       16. An energy conserving method of operating two or more watercrafts at high speeds, the method comprising:
 providing two or more watercrafts, 
 forming a connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement with the two or more watercrafts, wherein in the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement, the last trailing watercraft comprises:
 a hull having:
 a top side; 
 a bottom side; 
 a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile; and 
 a stern end having a waterjet propulsion arrangement having at least one pair of nozzles, the stern end being one of a continuous end or a notched end, wherein the notched end comprises a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein so that the substantially V-shaped notch extends from the top side of the hull to the bottom side of the hull, wherein the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end; 
 
 
 and wherein each of the remaining watercrafts in the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement comprises:
 a hull having:
 a top side; 
 a bottom side; 
 a bow end having a substantially V-shaped profile;
 a stern end, the stern end having a substantially V-shaped notch cut therein so that the substantially V-shaped notch extends from the top side of the hull to the bottom side of the hull, wherein the size and shape of the V-shaped notch is substantially similar to the size and shape of the substantially V-shaped profile of the bow end; and, a waterjet propulsion arrangement attached to the hull, the waterjet propulsion arrangement comprising at least one exit nozzle on either side of the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the hull, wherein each exit nozzle is rotatably adjustable, 
 
 
 wherein the forming of the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement comprises positioning a bow end of a second of the two or more watercrafts within the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of a first of the two or more watercrafts, the method further comprising operating the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement at a speed of about 30 knots to about 50 knots, wherein compressive forces created by the waterjet propulsion arrangements of the first and second watercrafts maintains the bow end of the second watercraft within the substantially V-shaped notch of the first watercraft. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the forming of the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement further comprises positioning the bow of a third of the two or more watercrafts within the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the second of the two or more watercrafts, wherein compressive forces created by the waterjet propulsion arrangements of the first, second and third watercrafts maintains the bow ends of the second and third watercrafts within the respective substantially V-shaped notches of the first and second watercrafts. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the third of the two or more watercrafts is provided with a stern end that is a notched end, and in each of the first, second, and third watercrafts, the hull has a hull depth of about 75 ft, a hull length of about 500 ft, a notch length of about 150 ft, a stern width of about 160 ft, and a notch width at the stern of about 88 ft, and wherein in the sea train a length from the bow of the first watercraft to the stern of the third watercraft is about 1200 ft. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein in the operating of the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement at a speed of about 30 knots to about 50 knots, the flow of water at the bow end of the first watercraft is at about 25 ft above the bottom side, and wherein in each of the bow ends of the second and third watercrafts, the flow is about 15 ft above the bottom side. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the forming of the connectorless bow-to-stern arrangement further comprises positioning the bow of a fourth of the two or more watercrafts within the substantially V-shaped notch at the stern end of the third of the two or more watercrafts, the method further comprising:
 reducing the speed of only the first watercraft of the sea train to increase the compression forces among the two or more watercrafts in the sea train. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the third of the two or more watercrafts is provided with a stern end that is a continuous end having a pair of exit nozzles, the method further comprising:
 increasing the waterjet thrust of only the third watercraft of the sea train to increase the compression forces among the two or more watercrafts in the sea train.